7-2-12 Raw results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the July 2, 2012 episode of Raw

The show starts with John Cena coming to the ring. He says that rather than being upset about what happened last week, he thanked Jericho. He thanked him because Jericho mentioned that MITB anything can happen. He says that last week he had to deal with Big Show. He says that in MITB there are no friends. Then he says he will know what will happen at MITB. He says he needs to be ready for anything and he will be. Then he promises 2 things. First Big Show will lose. Second he will win MITB and become WWE Champion. Then Daniel Bryan comes out doing his yes chant. He says that Cena’s not relevant to him. Then he says that isn’t true because at MITB he will beat Punk for the WWE Title. Then he says that if Cena wins MITB then his relevance to him will be as the first guy to cash in the contract and lose. Cena says those are strong words but he can think of at least 1 person who disagrees with him. Then CM Punk came out and says there are more 1 who disagrees with Daniel. Punk does Bryan’s bit asking if he, Cena, Lawler, the fans disagree with Daniel. They all say yes. Then Punk does Bryan’s yes chant and Bryan gets pissed off. He says that other shouldn’t be using his catchphrase. Then Punk mentions that AJ will be the guest referee in the title match and will count Daniel’s shoulders down. Then he says that if Cena wins MITB it will come down to the 2 of them. Then Chris Jericho comes out and says that Punk is a wannabe. Then he tells Bryan not be offended by his catchphrase being stolen. Then he tells Bryan to think of other catchphrases. Daniel says no one asked him to be part of this. Jericho tells him to shut up. Then he says that after tonight none of the guys in the ring will ever be the same again! Then Jericho tells Cena that he needs to be prepared. Jericho says that since he invented the MITB match he is going to win. Then he dares any of them or anyone in the back to tell him otherwise. Then Kane’s music hits and he comes to the ring. Kane gets in Jericho’s face and says, “Otherwise.” Then Big Show’s music hits and he comes out. Cena waits for him but Bryan kicks Cena in the back of the head. Then a brawl breaks out. Show goes after Cena then he head butts Kane. Big Show leaves the ring as the others lay on the mat and floor. This was a good opening segment. I thought they did a good job in getting over the MITB & WWE Title matches here by mentioning that anything can happen.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth, Intercontinental Champion Christian & U.S. Champion Santino Marella vs. Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, David Otunga & Cody Rhodes. Kofi, Truth, Christian & Santino win when Santino pins Otunga. Titus, Darren & A.W. walked out during the match. Then Cody Rhodes leaves too. Then Brodus Clay’s music plays and he comes out. Otunga attempts to get away but the faces prevent him. Then Clay throws Otunga in the ring and Santino his Otunga with a Cobra for the 3 count. Afterwards Christian gives Otunga the Kill Switch. Then Brodus’ gives Otunga a big splash. Somebody call my momma. Brodus does shtick. The match started out good but went down hill once Otunga was on his own.

Alberto comes into Teddy Long’s office. He says that he earned a Title shot 3 months ago. He mentions that he was put in different matched and he lost his opportunity. Del Rio tells Long to give him what he deserves. Long says he doesn’t think Del Rio deserves anything. Then he says that the Board of Directors have named Del Rio the number one contender for the World Title and he will face Sheamus at MITB. Then Long tells Del Rio that he will be in action tonight. Del Rio asks who and Long says he’ll surprise him. This was ok.

Time for Alberto’s match. Ricardo introduces Del Rio. He will face Sin Cara.

Sin Cara vs. Alberto Del Rio. The match never starts because Del Rio attacked Cara before the bell. He locked Cara in the Cross Arm Breaker on the floor. This was a decent way to get heat on Alberto.

AJ is backstage and Daniel Bryan comes by and says that he has always cared about her. He was upset with himself for messing up and he apologizes. Then he gives her a rose. AJ says that she knows this has nothing to do with her being the referee for his match with Punk. AJ says that Daniel never cared about him. Then she says that she can’t wait to win her match and leap into the arms of the guy the fans call her soul mate. Then she bites the rose off the stem and walks out. This was a good bit.

They show Paul Heyman getting set up for his satellite interview.

They replay the Triple H promo from No Way Out followed by the Triple H-Paul Heyman segment from Raw 2 weeks ago.

They show Heyman in the WWE studio. Heyman says that Brock has made a decision about Triple H’s challenge for SummerSlam. He says that Brock will make that announcement on July 23. Heyman says that Triple H will need the money for the law suits Heyman filed against him. Then he says that Triple H wants to face Brock at SummerSlam as a way out. He then says that Brock will end Triple H’s in ring career. Then Triple H can be the corporate executive and loving dad. He says that Hunter can say that he went out in a blaze of glory against Brock. Then Heyman says that if Brock accepts Triple H’s challenge it won’t be a match, it will be a mercy killing. This was the usual great promo from Paul Heyman.

Vickie Guerrero comes out announcing herself as the “Queen Diva.”

World Champion Sheamus & AJ vs. Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero. Sheamus & AJ win when AJ pins Vickie. Then AJ gets the mic and does the yes chant as she walks up the ramp. This was a decent match. They didn’t really do much with Sheamus here and Dolph got buried again!

Then they show AJ backstage and she walks up to Punk. He’s on the phone with his sister. AJ asks Punk if he saw her match. Punk says he was on the phone for 15 minutes. AJ gets upset that Punk wasn’t paying attention to her. She walks out and Punk shrugs his shoulders. This was good. Punk & AJ really work well together. I still have a feeling that eventually she’ll be back with Daniel and this whole thing is a set up.

They show Sid squashing Heath Slater from last week. Heath Slater is in the ring. He says what happened to him last week isn’t funny. He says he isn’t a clown. Then Doink’s music hits and he comes out.

Doink (Brooklyn Brawler) vs. Heath Slater. Slater gets the pin. Then Diamond Dallas Page’s music hits and he comes out. He gets in the ring and does his Diamond Cutter symbol. The fans chant his name. Then Slater does the Diamond Cutter symbol. DDP hugs him then gives him a Diamond Cutter. This was ok. I was surprised they had Slater win. DDP coming out was cool.

They show an ad for the digitally re mastered No Holds Barred.

They show a video of John Cena & Alicia Fox at the Walter Reed Medical Center. This was a nice video.

Big Show vs. Kane in a No DQ match. Big Show gets the pin. This was a solid match.

Teddy Long is backstage and he runs into Eve. She says Long looks good. Then Long tells her to drop the nonsense. Then he gives her a name tag. She rips it up. Then she runs into AJ. Eve says that AJ should go sit in a corner and cry. AJ says that Eve will do anything to get attention. AJ asks who Eve will brown nose next. Then AJ says she will show Eve how to get attention. This was good too. AJ is really good in her role.

Tyson Kidd vs. Tensai. Tyson gets the pin. This was short. Nice to see Tyson win a match on Raw. Afterwards Tensai slapped around Sakamoto and chucked him out of the ring. Then Tensai went after Sakamoto on the floor. I’m not sure what they’re doing with Tensai.

Chris Jericho is backstage and Daniel Bryan comes by. He tells Jericho not to wear his stupid jacket. Then Jericho mentions Daniel’s jacket and his beard. Then Jericho says they should focus on Punk & Cena. Then Daniel chants yes, while Jericho chants “Ever again.”

Then they go to Punk & Cena. Punk tells Cena to follow his lead.    

Josh Mathews interviews Tyson Kidd backstage. Tyson says he feels great. Then Tensai comes in and throws Tyson into the lockers.

WWE Champion CM Punk & John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan & Chris Jericho. Jericho & Cena brawl to the back. Then AJ’s music hits and she skips around the ring again. Then she gets on the apron, then stands at ringside. She looks under the ring and drags out a table. She sets it up at ringside. Then she slowly walks up the steel steps, slowly climbs the ropes as she stares at the table. Then Daniel rolls out of the ring to talk her out of jumping. Then Punk gets on the turnbuckle to do the same. She kisses Punk. Then she pushes him off the ropes and both Punk & Bryan go through the table. Then AJ does the Yes chant on the turnbuckle to end the show. This was good. I liked the match and I thought they did a good job of furthering the AJ crazy person gimmick.

I thought this week’s show was solid overall. I liked the opening segment and I thought the end was good too. They’re really doing a great job with AJ being insane. She plays the roll really well! I thought most of the matches were from decent to good. The main event match was good, particularly the Punk-Bryan part. I also liked AJ’s backstage segments with Daniel, Punk & Eve. I thought they all did a great job in those segments. The 8 man tag was solid but once Otunga was on his own and Brodus Clay came out I thought it lost its momentum. It was nice to see DDP on the show. It was also surprising to see Heath Slater get a win. His match with “Brooklyn Brawler Doink” was short but decent. Kane-Big Show was a solid big man brawl. It was also nice to see Tyson Kidd actually get a win on Raw. The mixed tag match was ok for what it was. They didn’t really do much with Sheamus & Dolph got buried again. AJ & Vickie were both good here though. Del Rio being named the number one contender for the World Title wasn’t surprising. Him attacking Sin Cara was ok. Paul Heyman’s promo was really good. He is the king of promos. Overall I thought this was a good show this week.